Consume with a clear conscience

Created: 03/22/2022, 21:00

By: Hanna von Prittwitz

Received the Bavarian Order of Merit from Prime Minister Markus Söder in the Antiquarium of the Munich Residence for her commitment to consumer protection: Juliana Daum from Weßlingen.

© Bavarian State Chancellery

Juliana Daum from Weßling has been awarded the Bavarian Order of Merit by Prime Minister Markus Söder.

The Free State thus recognized her commitment to consumer protection.

Weßling

- Juliana Daum, state chairwoman of the Bavarian Consumer Service (VSB) in the Catholic German Women's Association, is a bearer of the Bavarian Order of Merit.

The woman from Wessling is all the more pleased about the award because the award ceremony took place on World Consumer Day, which has been celebrated annually on March 15 since 1983.

"So many people still don't know what we offer, and this is a good opportunity to draw attention to our work," she says in an interview with Starnberger Merkur.

Since 2012, the 56-year-old has been state chairman of the association, which has 160,000 members in Bavaria.

There are 20,000 more outside of the Free State.

Juliana Daum is also deputy chairwoman of the federal executive board.

Consumer protection is the lawyer's passion, who has lived with her family in Wessling since 2004.

The association also had to struggle with the pandemic.

His work focuses on home economics education and advice in the form of lectures and training courses.

“We had to switch to online quickly.

But that worked out well,” says Daum.

80 permanent employees and a similar number of freelancers work for the association, which sees itself as a modern trade association and mouthpiece for consumer policy.

An action week on the subject of sustainability is taking place these days.

"That's when you first think: That's squaring the circle," says Daum.

Every consumer also has a responsibility.

During the campaign week, the association provides information, for example, about more sustainability in online and fashion shopping, ways to save on household chores, and sustainable investments.

"But the responsibility also lies with politicians," says Daum.

Accordingly, the association engages in lobbying.

For example, he was able to enforce that cosmetic products should no longer contain microplastics.

"Politicians have to regulate, but also make consumers responsible," explains Daum, who is also a member of the Wesslinger local group of the women's association.

She doesn't want to know anything about the fact that one person cannot change things.

“Everything we do adds up.” Starting with the decision to rake the leaves by hand, not to eat strawberries in winter or to drink water from the tap.

"But we don't want to be radical," says Daum.

She is very happy about the Bavarian Order of Merit.

"It is also a recognition and appreciation of our work," says Daum.

The association's offer can be found on the Internet at Verbraucherservice-kdfb.de.

Daum emphasizes that denominations play no role in the association.

"Everyone is welcome here." Members pay 32 euros per year.

In return, there is a discount on the many educational opportunities and the members' magazine "KDFB Engagiert".

Daum, mother of four children, is enthusiastic about the offer.

"I mainly get advice on insurance - from neutral experts who don't earn anything from a degree."